De Lima hits Duterte for abusing

An emotional Sen. Leila de Lima on Thursday accused President Rodrigo Duterte of "abusing and misusing" his executive power through personal "attacks" against her.

"This is no less than abuse and misuse of executive power," De Lima told a news conference, adding that the 1987 Constitution had not intended such power to be abused.

"If this is his way of stopping the Senate, he can try until he finally silences me or the Senate," said De Lima, adding that she would still continue with the scheduled Senate probe on drug-related killings under the Duterte administration.

"It is clear what was done to me is what will be done to those who would not bow to the wishes of the President," De Lima added.
During her press briefing, De Lima admitted that it crossed her mind to no longer push through with the Senate probe on extrajudicial killings under the current administration.

De Lima then asked the President to no longer drag her colleagues, friends, and family if he is indeed "bent on destroying me."
"Mas nanaasin ko pong kayo at inyong administrasyon ang magbaon sa akin kaysa ang aking sarili," said De Lima, who also served as former Justice secretary and Commission on Human Rights chairperson before being elected to the Senate last May.